Ch.

29 - 4
The World of Energy
29.2. Acid Gas Removal Technology
Chapter 29 - LNG Technology - Gas Treating
Ch. 29 - 5
Physical Processes
Expander Process (Ryan-
Holmes)
Membrane (Monsanto,
Separex)
Molecular Sieve (UOP, Grace,
Tosoh)
Physical Solvents
Estasolvan (Tributyl
Phospate, TBP)
Fluor Solvent (Propylene
Carbonate, PC)
Purisol (Normal Methyl
Pyrolidone, NMP)
Rectisol (Methanol)
Selexol (Di-methyl ether
polyethylene glycol)
Sepasolv (Mix of Poly
ethylene glycol and
dialkyl ethers)
Chemical Processes
(Absorption)
Carbonate Solvent
Catacarb (Eickmeyer)
Benfields (UOP))
LRS-10 (British Gas)
Giamarco Vetrocoke
Amine Solvent
MEA, DEA, TEA
DGA
MDEA
aMDEA (BASF)
Hindered Amines
Flexsorb (ExxonMobil)
Specialty Amines
Ucarsol (UOP)
DowSpec
Sulfinol (Shell)
Acid Gas Removal Technology
Ch. 29 - 6
Older LNG Plant & low CO2 in
feed gas use MEA (Badak,
Algeria, Libya)
Older LNG Plant & high CO2
in feed gas use Benfield
(Arun, Das Island)
All Shell LNG Plant which
have moderate CO2 in feed
gas use Sulfinol (Brunei,
Malaysia, Australia) also
Middle East LNG Plants
(QatarGas, RasGas, Oman)
Recent LNG Plants with high
CO2 in feed gas tend to use
MDEA (Tangguh)
Recent LNG Plants with low
CO2 tend to use DEA
(Trinidad)
Badak LNG Plant switched to
MDEA due to MEA corrosion
Trend in Acid Gas
Technology shift
Non environmentally
friendly technology such
as Benfield (use
Vanadium) & Catacarb
(use Borax) are losing
market.
Corrosive and highly
degradable amine (such
MEA) are losing market
Emerging technology is
MDEA
Sulfinol still the choice for
Shells LNG Plant
Extremely high CO2 gas
such as Natuna requires
Expander Process (Ryan-
Holmes)
Application of Acid Gas Removal Technology
in LNG Plants
Ch. 29 - 7
0
80
Feed Gas Pressure, Bar
C
O
2

i
n

F
e
e
d

G
a
s
,

%
20 200
CO2 Liquefaction (Expander)
Membrane
Separation
Gas/Liquid
Absorption
Gas Solid Adsorption
(Molecular Sieve)
Most LNG Plant
Application
Natuna LNG
AGRU Technology Application Chart
Ch. 29 - 8
High Environmental Impact
High H2S Selective Removal
High Hydrocarbon Losses
Low CO2 ppm outlet
Physical Solvents
Tertiary Amines (TEA,
DGA)
Hindered Amines
(Flexsorb)
Primary Amines (MEA)
Activated Carbonates
(Benfield, Catacarb, LRS-10)
Activated Secondary Amines
(Ucarsol, aMDEA, Sulfinol)
Hindered Amines (Flexsorb
PS)
Hot Potassium
Carbonate (Benfield,
Catacarb, G-V, LRS-
10, Flexsorb HP)
Ucarsol
Selexol
Sulfinol
Flexsorb
PS
AGRU Absorption
Technology Application Chart
Ch. 29 - 9
In Search of AGRU Technology
Excellence for LNG
Must be able to have a very low CO2 and H2S outlet, below 100 ppm
CO2 and 1 ppm H2S
Must be environmentally friendly:
Does not contain any heavy metals as activator or passivator
Does not easily heat degradable and produce unwanted
degradation product
Must have low absorptivity of heavy hydrocarbon. Heavy hydrocarbon is
precious and needed for refrigerant preparation.
Must have a low system pressure drop. In LNG, pressure is equivalent to
LNG production.
Must have low corrosivity. Does not require a metal pre-passivation
prior to start-up.
The solvent does not easily crystallize or solidified when the unit is shut
down or idle.
Must be a proven technology for the capacity application. LNG
application is extremely high gas flow rate (400 ~ 600 mmScfd), not too
many AGRU application have a proven track record at high capacity
Ch. 29 - 10
A
B
S
O
R
B
E
R
R
E
G
E
N
E
R
A
T
O
R
CO2/H2S
GAS
(Sweet
Gas)
FEED GAS
(Sour Gas)
SWEET GAS
TO LNG UNIT
LEAN
SOLVENT
RICH
SOLVENT
Gas/Liquid Absorption Amine System Is The
Workhorse in LNG AGRU
Ch. 29 - 11
FEED GAS
TREATED
GAS
REMOVED
ACID GAS
REGENERATOR
ABSORBER
WASH
TOWER
RECIRCULATION
PUMP
REBOILER
LEAN/RICH
AMINE
EXCHANGER
OVERHEAD
CONDENSER
AGRU Absorption Process Diagram
Ch. 29 - 12
MOST LIKELY
THE HEAVIEST
SINGLE
EQUIPMENT IN
LNG PLANT
(600 - 800
TONS)
Absorber & Regenerator Column Details
Ch. 29 - 13
Trayed Column
Excellence distribution
and contact. High
efficiency but expensive.
Essentially maintenance
free. Easy to replace and
renew.
Not easily built-up
flooding, but subject to
jet flooding. Exception is
the flexible Sieve Tray or
Valve Tray
Must be properly
installed, perfectly
leveled and no gaps
Random Packing Column
Simple design and
economical.
Easily loss efficiency
when crushed or packed.
Prone to built up flooding
Cumbersome to replace
or renew
Structured Packing
Column
Hybrid of the Trayed and
Random Packing
The good and the bad of
both sides
Specialty technology,
high dependency on
manufacturer
Trayed or Packed Column?
Ch. 29 - 14
Packed or Trayed column
Ch. 29 - 15
SIEVE
TRAY
BUBBLE
CAP TRAY
VALVES
TRAY
VALVE FOR
TRAYS
Types of Column Trays
Ch. 29 - 16
Types of Random Packings
Ch. 29 - 17
Types of Structured Packings
Ch. 29 - 18
Types of Liquid Distributors
Ch. 29 - 19
Kettle Type Reboiler
High Vapor Volume
Easy Maintenance
Floating Head
Reboiler
Small Vapor
Volume
For Clean Reboiled
Liquid
Reboiler Design
Ch. 29 - 20
Recover Amine
entrainment losses
by washing the
treated gas
Separate & recover
the condensed heavy
hydrocarbons
Condensed the
entrained water,
reduced the feed
vapor dryer load
Treated Gas Wash Tower